quiddity

"Pondering this reversal of fortune, Anicius Manlius Boethius composed
a soliloquy in which, queried by Philosophy as to his quiddity, he
replied: 'I am a man, a rational and mortal animal.'"
Alvin Moore Jr.; The Noble Traveler; Parabola (New York); Jun 1996.

"Any kind of lackadaisical activity, any sort of diverting quiddity to
take a person's mind off mundane, everyday, small-change troubles."
Guy Friddell; Perfect Day is Fine Excuse For Lackadaisical Activity;
The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia); May 27, 2004.